The thing - one of them - about growing old is that the milestones work the other way round. Instead of going forward towards more prowess, more participation we start to leave things behind, to go backwards down the road relinquishing what was, marking the way to whatever will be at the end of it. The Guru, amongst other things, runs a swing band. I have had to pass the milestone of a significant gig in a huge venue because there would be nowhere to sit. Once down on the grass there would be nothing short of two tall men to get me up again. When bikinis first appeared on the summer scene, I wore them. Another milestone passed. Kind readers who follow me may remember the scarlet swimsuit. Believe me, it covers as much of me as is practible and emerges from its cover-up on the very edge of the sea and not before. I no longer hike along the banks of the Ure - nor anywhere else for that matter. On my last visit 'home' with someone close to me, we borrowed a wheel chair to move me around. When asked how he managed to push me up the hills, my motivator replied that that was no problem and he would let me free-wheel down!
What I have been telling you is very visual in my inner world: something circuitous about the journey as if I would approach the milestones backwards, losing teeth, failing to walk, to stand, hair whispy and so on. It's hard to know if a little one knows whom she/he is. I believe I do. In passing back along the milestones there is a constant and it is me. Nos da
Afterthought: of course it's not circuitous. It is the same, straight - ish - road I trod but going in the other direction. Good night again
Afterthought: of course it's not circuitous. It is the same, straight - ish - road I trod but going in the other direction. Good night again
3 comments:
Thank you for your afterthought. It seems right for the blog
Dear Liz, Not always a straight road, more a meandering one
I think it is something like going back to the womb, this time made of wood - or whicker
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